Fluid-pressure signal-valve.



z 0. m m b e F d a t n e t a DI N 0 s A M n H m A 3. 9 6 0 N FLUID pnas'suns slGuAL VALVE.

(Application fl1ed June 12, 1900.)

2 Sheets$het I.

,. (No Model.)

No; 693 ,45 Patented Feh. l8, I902.

1 I H.R. MASON. FLUID PRESSURE SIGNAL VALVE. A ummgmod M1 12, 1900.)- (#0 mm. 2 shmi-she t- 2.

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UNiTEn ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY R. MASON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WVESTING- HOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

FLUID-PRESSURE SlGNAL-VA LVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,415, dated Februa'ry18, 1902.

Application filed June 12, 1900. Serial No. 20,010. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY R. MASON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented or discovered a certain new and useful Improvement in Fluid P-ress'ure Signal-Valves, of which improvement the follo wing is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in signal-valves employed in fluid-pressure signaling systems to sound the signal when actuated by impulses generated in the signaling-pipe. The signaling system is used more especiallyupon railway passenger-trains and employs a signaling-pipe extending throughout the train and kept charged with air under pressure from the main reservoir of an air-brake system. The signal is actuated by the opening of a conductors signaling-valve upon a car of the train to generate a signaling impulse which travels to the signaLvalve on the locomotive, the object being to cause each openingof a condnctors signaling-valve to actuate the signal-valve on the locomotive and sound the signal, usually a whistle, once and once only with each operation. v

I It is a fact'well known in the art that the effects of impulscsgenerated at conductors signaling-valves vary greatly in trains of different lengths, so that the force of an' impulse when it reaches the signal-valve may be of greater or less degree, dependent upon" the number of cars in the train and the relative position ofthe conductors valve that is opened. creased by the fluctuations of pressure in the train-pipe following the direct impulse. As a consequence unless means are provided to prevent it the signal-valve will be actuated and the signal sounded more than once under a single direct impulse. In Letters Patent that have been hitherto granted to me,

" notably No. 534,401, of February 19, 1895,

and No. 620,601, of March 7, 1899, lhave shown and described signal-valves of what is known as the non-interference type constructed to prevent the undue repetition of signals by causing the return of the sig reservoir through a supplemental passage to The variations mentioned arein whistle.

would under all conditions after a direct impulse close the whistle-valve and hold it closed againstrebounding impulses to prevent undue repetition of signals. While my aforesaid patented devices operate satisfactorily, theycause under strong signaling impulses a greater venting from the signaling-reservoir, and consequently a greater loss of air, than I find desirable. I

My present object is to provide a signalvalve of the non-interference type in which the ventingfromthe signaling-reservoir to the whistle will be nearly the same under direct signaling impulses of diiferent degrees of strength, which will cause a rapid'recharging of the signaling-reservoir after each direct impulse, and in the use of which the signals may 'be repeated more rapidly than in the use of the previous devices. In the mainmy present device differs from under strong direct impulses the signalingthe train-pipe. Thus instead of wasting the signaling-reservoir air and prolonging the sound of the whistle the body of air in the signaling-reservoir is thrown into communication with the body of air in the train-pipe to quiet fluctuations instead of permitting them to'spend themselves naturally and more slowly. Furthermore, the upper and under sides of the piston will be'subjected simul 9'0 taneously to the force of the fluctuations following a strong direct impulse,'which will tend to prevent unseating of the piston under the force of the fluctuations to sound the '95 Referring to the drawings, Figure] is a Vertical section of a signal-valve of my latest improved construction; Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, corresponding with lines 2 in Figs. Sand 4; Fig. 3, a broken plan section taken on line 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a vertical section of a bushing.

For convenience of construction the signalvalve or valve device A is formed in two sections A A fitting and bolted together with a gasket a between them. In the device isa chamber 1), provided in its upper part with a bushing Z) and communicating at its top through a cored passage 5 with the trainpipe at B. In the base of the chamber 1), at the center thereof, is an opening b comm unicating with a cored passage 0, extending to the signal or whistle C. Mounted in the opening b and extending upward in the chamber 1) is a sleeve or tube (1, provided in its lower end with a port d, surrounded by a valveseat and opening into the whistle-passage c. In the side of the sleeve is a port d opening into the chamber 1). D is the signal'valve piston, sliding in the bushing b and fitting the same closely. On the upper side of the piston is a chamber 6, surmounted by a projection e, and on the under side of the piston is a hollow stem 6 fitting and sliding in the sleeve (1 and terminating above the port d The chamber 6 is in open communication with the chamber 1) above the piston, and in its base surrounding the opening through the stem 6 is a valve-seat 6 In the hollow stem 6 is a winged stem f, forming atits lower end a valve to close the port (1 and provided at its upper end with a valve f, fitting the seat a In the chamber 6 is a springf which is confined between the piston and the stemfitending tohold the latter down to close the port d and the former up to seat the valvef on the seat a. In the lower part of the chamber 1) is a port g, leading to a passage 9, which communicates with the signaling-reservoir at E. Thus far described the construction is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 of my aforesaid Patent No. 620,601. I

Above the chamber 1) and in open communication therewith is a chamber h, fitted with a bushing h. Above the chamber h is a chamber i, communicating through a passage i with the train-pipe passage 11'. Between the chambers i h is a vent-passage '9, surrounded at its top in the chamber 1' by a valveseat'i for a check-valve 'i", which may rise to a stop i In the bushing h, at one side near its lower end, is a port or pair of ports 70, communicating with a cored passage extending down the side of the device to the under side of the bushing b and there communicat ing with the chamber 1). In the chamber h is a piston Z, chambered in its under side, as shown at l, and provided at the center of its chamber with a downward-projecting lug Z In the outer surface of the piston Z, about midway between its upper and lower ends, is an annular recess Z, communicating through ports with the inner chambered side of the -seat the valve f.

piston. Above the recess Z the piston fits loosely the bushing 7t; but below the recess Z the piston fits snugly against the bushing, so as to effectively close the port 70 when covering the same. At the lower end of the bushing h is a stop m, which limits the downward movement of the piston Z. In the upper side of the piston Z is a central socket or recess Z, containing a spring Z which is confined between the piston and the upper end of the chamber 72-.

The operation is as follows: Air under pressure from the train-pipe fills the cored passage 12 and passing into the upper part of the chamber 1) presses down the piston D to un- The air passes through the direct reservoir feed-passagenamely, the chamber 6, stem 6 port 61 chamber 1) at the under side of the piston, port g, and passageg-tofillthesignaling-reservoir. The air also passes through the passage t" to the chamber t' above the valve 71 and through the ports in the piston l to the recess Z and thence up around the piston lto the upper part of chamber 7L. When the pressure in the signaling-reservoir and lower part of the chamber 1) equals approximately that of the train-pipe, the spring f operates to raise the pistonD and close the port e The stem or valvefis kept seated over the port (Z by the relative suction action at the latter. When what maybe termed a comparatively weak direct signaling impulse is generated at a conductors signaling-valve in the train-pipe, the slight lowering of pressure above the piston D causes it to be raised to the stop Z thereby raising the valve f and opening the port cl, so that signaling-reservoir pressure escapes from the lower part of the chamber 1) to the whistle C to sound the same. As soon as the pressure of the signaling-reservoirfalls approximately to that of the train-pipe the piston D descends and the valvef closes the whistle-port d. The subsequent rise of pres sure in the train-pipe causes the piston D to be moved downward to open the port 6 and recharge the signaling-reservoir. The fluctuations following such a weak direct impulse will be too mild to disturb the piston D and will quickly subside. Under a strong direct signaling impulse the comparatively great reduction of pressure above the piston D will cause the latter to be raised against the stop Z and press the piston Z upward in the chamher It, expelling air from above the piston Z through the vent-passage i and chamber 1' to the train-pipe. In doing this it unseats the valve 7 which quickly seats again when the piston Z ceases to rise. The force with which the piston D is lifted will depend upon the strength of the direct impulse, and in the rise of the piston Z the port It will be uncovered. The opening of the port 7t tends to quickly equalize the pressures above and below the piston D, so that the latter will fall and cause the valve f to quickly close the port (1 to the whistle. The closing of the check-valve t renders it necessary for air to pass through the port in the piston Z, recess Z and around the piston to the upper part of the chamber h in order to produce such rise of pressure above the said piston as to permit the same to descend and close the port 70. The passage of air to the upper part of the chamber 71 in practice will be comparatively slow, because the upper part ofthe piston is'sufficiently close to the bushing to produce that result. In the drawings the space between the upper part of the piston Zand bushing is greatly exaggerated for the purpose of illustration.

While the port is is uncovered, which it will be for a time after the whistle-port dhas been closed, as described, the volume of air in the signaling-reservoir is in open communication with the train-pipe,thereby increasing the volume of air in which the fluctuations following the direct impulse must operate. The tendency of this sudden increase of volume is to absorb to a great extent, at.

least, the strength of the fluctuations, and at the same time the under side as well as the upper side of the piston D will be exposed to the force thereof. Thus as the first rebounding-impulse, at least, will act against both sides simultaneously of the piston D the lat-' ter will not be efiected thereby. While the air passes, as described, to the upper part of the chamber'h the piston lwill descend to its normal position, closing the port It. Theoretically, at least, it. is onlynecessary to absorb the first rebounding vimpulses which follow upon the direct signaling impulsefloecause.

complete destruction of their force would naturally prevent the following thereon of fur In the construction shown in the drawings the port or ports is" are graduther fluctuations.

ated to rapidly increase the size of the opening or supplemental passage between the trainpipe and signaling-reservoir asthe pistonZ rises. The resistance of. the spring Z tends to limit therise of the piston Z according to the strength ofthe signaling impulse,.and thus also cause the degree ofopenin g of the supplemental passage to be governed by the strength of such impulse. The spring also tendsto hasten thereturn of the pistonl toclos e the supplemental passage. 1 The whole tendency of thisconstruction is to cause quick destruction of the direct and rebounding impulses in the train-pipe instead of permitting them to die out or subside naturally, with theresult that the pressure in the train-pipe will be.

quieted very quickly after each direct signalingimpulse, and such impulses may be caused to follow upon each other inrapid succession without da nger either of amiss or undue repetition of the signal. A further advantage of this construction lies in the fact that under a sudden rush of pressure to the device from thetrain-pipe the piston Z will be lifted, and thus open a large supplemental passage for the pressure to the signaling-reservoir.

While the construction shown and above described is the form in which I now prefer to embody my improvements inconnection with train signaling systems, I do not wish to be limited to the structural details, because they could be variously modified as circumstances may suggest or necessityrender ex- What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In a fluid-pressure signaling system, the combination, with a signal valve device operative by variations of pressure on opposite sides of a movable abutment, of means separate from, but actuated by, the movable abutment, for quickly releasing fluid from one side of the abutment to the other to counteract such variations. 7

2.. In a fluid-pressure signaling'system, the combination, in a signal valve device, of a movable abutment exposed on one side to pressure in a signaling-pipe and on the'other to pressure in a reservoir, a valve device operated by the movable abutment to supply fluid under pressure to a whistle or other alarm device, and means separate from, but actuated by, the movable abutment, for

quickly releasing fluid under pressure'from the reservoir to the train-pipe side of the abutment so as to reduce the reservoir-pressure and to counteract reductions of pressure in the train-pipe. v

' 3. In a fluid-pressure signaling system, the

combination, in'a signal valve device, of a movable abutment exposed on one'side to pressure in a signaling-pipe and on the other sideto pressurein a reservoir,a valve device operative by the abutment, 011 a reduction of pressure in the sign aling pipe, to'release'fluid under pressure from the reservoir to awhistle or other alarm, and means. separate from,

the first reduction of pressuretherein'.

but actuated by, the movable abutment,

whereby the reservoir may be connected with 'the signaling-pipe so that both sides of the abutment'will'be exposed to-the same varia 1 tions of pressure inthesignaling-pipe atter 4. In a fluid-pressure signaling system, the

combination, in a'signal valve device,of a

movable abutment exposedon one sideto pressure in a signaling-pipe and on the other side to pressure in a'reservoir, a valve device operated by the movable abutment to release fiuid] under pressure from the reservoir 'toa' whistle or other alarm device, and means sep-" arate from, but actuated by, the'movable abutment, for suddenly equalizing the pressures'on both sides of the movable abutment.

1 5. In a fluid-pressure signaling system, the

combination, in a signalvalvedevice, of a movable abutment exposed" on one side to pressure in a signaling-pipe and on theother side to pressure in a reservoir, valve mechanism operated by the movable abutment to release fluid under pressure from the reservoir to a whistle or other alarm device and means separate from, but actuated by, the movable abutment, for releasing fluid from the reservoir to the signaling-pipe.

0 In a fluid-pressure signaling system, the combination with a signal valve device provided with valve mechanism interposed between a signaling-pipe and a signaling-reservoir, and subject on its opposite sides to pressure therefrom, respectively, and normally closing an outlet to the signal, and movable from normal position to open said outlet under pressure from the said reservoir when the signaling-pipe pressure falls under a signal ing impulse, of a normally closed passage extending between the signaling-pipe and signaling-reservoir, and valve mechanism, governing said passage actuated, under strong signaling impulses in the signaling-pipe, to open said passage, to subject rebounding impulses following thedirect signaling impulse to the modifying effect of the volume of signaling-reservoir air, and then close said passage, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a fluid-pressure signaling system, the combination with a signal valve device provided with piston-actuated valve mechanism interposed between a signaling-pipe and a signaling-reservoir, and subject on its opposite sides to pressure therefrom, respectively, and normally closing an outlet to the signal, and movable from normal position to open said outlet under pressure from the said reservoir when the signaling-pipe pressure falls under a signaling impulse, of a normally closed passage extending between the signaling-pipe and signaling-reservoir, and valve mechanism, governing said passage, actuated, under strong signaling impulses in the signaling-pipe, to open said passage, to subject both sides of the piston of the piston-actuated valve mechanism simultaneously to the force of rebounding impulses following the direct signaling impulse, and then close said passage, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a fluid-pressure signaling system, the

combination with a signal valve device provided with valve mechanism interposed between asignaling-pipe and a signaling-reservoir, and subject on its opposite sides to pressure therefrom, respectively, and normally closing an outlet to the signal, and movable from normal position to open said outlet under pressure from the said reservoir when the signaling-pipe pressure falls under a signaling impulse, of a normally closed supplemental passage extending between the signalingpipe and signaling reservoir, and quickly opening and slowly closing valve mechanism governing said passage, actuated under signaling impulses in the signaling-pipe to open and then close said passage, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a fluid-pressure signaling system, the

combination with a signal valve device provided with piston-actuated valve mechanism interposed between a signaling-pipe and a signaling-reservoir, and subject on its opposite sides to pressure therefrom, respectively, and normally closing an outlet to the signal, and movable from normal position to open said outlet under pressure from the said reservoir when the signaling-pipe pressure falls under a signaling impulse, of a normally closed supplemental passage extending between the signaling-pipe and signaling-reservoir, and valve mechanism governing said passage, in the path of the said piston-actuated valve mechanism, and actuated by movement of the said piston-actuated valve mechanism to open and then close said passage, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a fiuid-pressu re signaling system, the combination with a signal valve device provided with piston-actuated valve mechanism interposed between a signaling-pipe and a signaling-reservoir, and subject on its opposite sides to pressure therefrom, respectively, and normally closing an outlet to the signal, and movable from normal position to open said outlet under pressure from the said reservoir when the signaling-pipe pressure falls under a signaling impulse, of a normally closed supplemental passage extending between the signaling-pipe and sigualing-reservoir, self-closing supplemental-passage valve mechanism, in the path of the said piston-actuated valve mechanism, actuated by movement of the said piston-actuated valve mechanism to open said passage, and return retarding means for the supplemental-passage valve mechanism for yieldingly resisting the closing movement thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a fluid-pressu re signaling system, the combination with a signal valve device provided with piston-actuated valve mechanism interposed between a signaling-pipe and a sig naling-reservoir, and subject on its opposite sides to pressure therefrom, respectively, and normally closing an outlet to the signal, and movable from normal position to open said outlet under pressure from the said reservoir when the signaling-pipe pressure falls under a signaling impulse, of a normally closed supplemental passage extending between the signaling-pipe and signaling-reservoir, supplemental-passage valve mechanism, in the path of the said piston-actuated valve mechanism, actuated by movement of the said piston-actuated valve mechanism to open said passage, a spring operating to resist the opening and assist the closing of the supplemental-passage valve mechanism, and return retarding means for the supplemental-passage valve mechanism for yieldingly resisting the closing movement thereof, substantially as and forthe pu rpose set forth.

12. In a fluid-pressure signaling system, the combination, with a signal valve device, operative by variations of pressure on opposite sides of a movable abutment, of means for ing communication between the reservoir and establishing communication between the op-- the signaling-pipe, and for independently posite sides of the abutment when it is operclosing the communication after a return ated to make a signal, and for-independently movement of the abutment. r5

' closing such communication. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 13. Inafluid-pressuresignalingsystem, the my hand. combination, with a signaling-pipe and a signal valve device, operative by variations of HARRY MASON pressure on opposite sides of a movable abut- I Witnesses:

ment, of a signaling-reservoir, means actu- A. D. BACCI, ated by the movable abutment for establish- D. W. LEE. 

